The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns have won two in a row, while Ohio's Bobcats have lost two straight. Those two teams will meet Saturday when the 'Cats hope to continue their unblemished record (2-0) against Louisiana.
Ohio's defense will need to be ready as the Cajuns are coming off a 77-6 blowout of Texas Southern. Prior to that, they . . .
Ohio, meanwhile, lost to Pittsburgh (20-10) and rival Marshall (33-31) after an opening win over Rhode Island (41-20). Beating Louisiana would even the Bobcats non-conference record at 2-2, and Ohio would then have a bye week before embarking on its MAC slate (at Buffalo) Oct. 5.
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Ohio Bobcats (1-2, 0-0 MAC)
Saturday, Sept. 21 -- 2 p.m. ET
Peden Stadium -- Athens, OH
ESPN+
Series: Ohio leads 2-0
ABOUT LOUISIANA
-- The Ragin Cajuns broke multiple school records in their 77-6 victory over Texas Southern last week. It was the most points in school history (77), largest victory margin (71) and most touchdowns in a game (11).
-- Louisiana's ground game has been ultra-productive as it ranks in the top-three nationally in multiple rushing categories. They include total rushing yards (No. 1 - 1,010), yards per attempt (No. 3 -- 8.0 ypc) and rushing TDs (14).
-- Raymond Calais, Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell all scored multiple touchdowns against TSU. Six different backs reached the endzone for Louisiana during the contest.
-- Ja'Marcus Bradley caught three balls for 52 yards against Texas Southern and now has 255 receiving yards on the year. He has the second-most receiving yards in the conference and 24th most in FBS.
Jamall Bell caught a career-high eight passes for 113 yards against Mississippi State.
-- Louisiana has punted the ball just once in its last two games and has booted just four on the season.
-- Levi Lewis opened the 2019 season throwing for a career-high 267 yards with 24 completions on 39 attempts.
-- Louisiana had three drives of 65+ yards, including a 99-yard drive, that ended with a score against Mississippi State.
ABOUT OHIO
-- The Bobcats trailed rival Marshall after each of the first three quarters (7 points, 10 points, 3 points), but they remained in striking distance and took a 31-27 lead over MU earlier in the final stanza. The hosting Herd, however, scored on a 43-yard pass play with 7:45 left and held off Ohio for the win.
-- There was just one turnover in the game -- a lost fumble by Ohio -- and neither team had more than 20 yards in penalties.
-- Both Marshall and Ohio displayed healthy run games as the 'Cats averaged 6.6 yards per carry (305 total) and MU averaged 7.2 ypc (223 total).
-- Nathan Rourke completed 15 of 25 for 215 yards and three touchdowns against the Herd. His total of four TDs on the day increased his career total to 84, breaking the previous school record of 82 set by Tyler Tettleton.
-- RB De'Montre Tuggle leads the MAC in scoring with four TDs (3 run, 1 rec).
-- Linebacker Tavante Beckett registered 11 tackles against Marshall, following 13 (9 solo) against No. 24 Boise State.
-- Although Ohio is second (MAC) in scoring defense (24.3 ppg), it is 10th against the run (183.0 ypg) and eighth in pass defense (272.7 ypg). It is fifth in pass defense efficiency.
-- Ohio enters Week Four with a minus-2 turnover margin.
-- The Bobcats rank first (MAC) in both red zone offense and red zone defense.